Cruel and Beautiful (Cruel & Beautiful #1)

“You’re driving home, right?”


“Oh, yeah. Didn’t want to be that long without a car. I’m staying the entire three weeks, unlike someone I know,” she clears her throat.

“I wanted to talk to you about that. I’m a little freaked, if you want the truth. This will be the first time we’ve been together like this.”

“You’ll be fine. Drew is Drew, you know? He’s easy. He’s not a diva man. And you’re not a diva either. You two were made for each other.”

“God, Jenna, I hope so.”

“I’ve never seen you like this before, Cate. How long have we known each other? Since kindergarten? Trust me. I know so. But just remember. I don’t care that you have a sister, I’m going to be your maid of honor in your wedding.”

I pick up a pillow from the couch and toss it at her. “You’re a nut.”

“No. I’m about to fall asleep on my feet so I’m off to bed. G’night.”

“Night.”





It doesn’t surprise me to see Drew waiting on the porch of his apartment as I pull in and park. His ear-to-ear smile only heightens my excitement at being here. He’s wearing my favorite faded jeans and the top to one of his scrubs. He must have only gotten home a little while ago.

“Hey you,” I call out as I climb out of my car.

“Hey back. One more semester down, huh?”

“Thank you, Jesus.”

“I’ll second that, because you’re here and I can finally get some Cate time.” I’m on the porch by now and he wastes no time in reaching for me. “I have missed the hell out of you, sweet thing.”

“Sweet thing?”

“Sweeter than honey and that’s for damn sure. Now shut up and kiss me.”

You sure can’t hide the southern boy in him. When I wrap my arms around him, he stands up and lifts me off the ground. I love it when he does this, so I giggle, but he inhales it with his mouth. He walks backward through his door and takes me straight into his kitchen. His hands wrap around my thighs and I find myself sitting on the countertop. Then I spy what’s next to me chilling in an ice bucket, and I let out a muffled whoop against his lips that are still nibbling on mine. He reaches behind him and pulls open the refrigerator, our lips still locked, and grabs a bowl of ruby red strawberries.

“Mmmm,” I mumble.

“Not done yet.”

When he sets the can of whipped cream on the counter, I know we’re going to have some serious fun tonight. He unbuttons my sweater and I shrug it off. Next comes my bra. I’m sitting on his counter, naked to the waist, as he pops the champagne cork and pours.

Then he hands me a glass with a heated gaze and says, “Congratulations on one more down.” We clink our glasses and sip. He takes his and pours a bit down my chest, stopping to lick it up as it makes a trail from my neck to my navel. I shiver as goosebumps poke out all over me. The points of my nipples practically scream to be licked or sucked, but he does neither. Instead, he takes the can of whipped cream and coats them with it. It’s cold and gives me chills. But when he sucks and licks it off, I whimper with need.

After the whipped cream is gone, he steps back and offers me a strawberry to go with my champagne. Then he tilts my head back and feeds me one of the luscious berries, covered in the sweet, white cream. I close my eyes as I chew because it’s that tasty. “They complement each other, you know.” I’m not sure if he’s referring to his mouth, the whipped cream, and my nipples, or the champagne and strawberries.

My hand trembles as I raise my glass to sip the champagne. “They sure do.”

His blue eyes sparkle and I can tell he knows he’s a tease. So I decide to run with it.

“Is this our dinner?” I ask.

“This?” He sweeps his hand over the strawberries and champagne.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, no. This is just our appetizer. The next course is in there.” And he points to his bedroom. How exciting. I cross my legs. He sees it and uncrosses them and moves in between them. “What’s the matter, Cate? Something bothering you?” His voice is deep and gruff.

“Um, no. Not at all,” I squeak.

His knuckles brush the seam of my jeans and I squirm against them. “Is this what you want, Cate?”

“Yes.” This time, my voice is rough with urgency.

“But, I thought you were hungry.”

My fingers latch onto the collar of his scrubs and I jerk him closer to me. “I am. Starving. For you.”

“Hmm. Well, I’m starving for you, too. What a coincidence. But first, I have a surprise.”

Surprise? What kind of surprise? I want sex, not a surprise. Louise is dying here, not to mention the state of my panties is getting to the point where they’ll have to be wrung out soon. He slides me off the counter and I practically dry hump him.

“Uh, Cate, is there something you want from me?”

“You’re kidding, right?”

He only offers me one of his through-the-roof, deep, sexy chuckles, which only adds to my sexual frustration. Louise quivers.

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